OMB Clears Proposed Rules On Setting Time And Place For ALJ Hearings

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has just cleared proposed regulations concerning setting the time and place for hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs). Here is the brief summary given by OMB:

The amendments include provisions clarifying that claims denied by state Disability Determination Services and other adjudicators for “failure to cooperate” are technical denials rather than medical determinations, and providing flexibility in setting the time and place of hearings. We also intend to propose new regulatory provisions that will allow ALJs to dismiss a request for a hearing where a claimant has abandoned his or her claim and to specify regulatory standards that require ALJs to clearly articulate their rationale when issuing decisions on remanded claims.